LakeCity Basketball

LakeCity Miniballers (U12s)

This week we wrapped our local league & this group of boys done really well.
Heaps of heart, heaps of passion & heaps of energy.
We were lucky enough to be allowed to enter a team into our local league as a means of helping develop our next generation of ballers.

We have some keen young talent coming through so watch this space.

Thank you to all our whānau for showing up every week & supporting hard.
Was a very enjoyable season.

Thank you to this group of boys for being our first LakeCity team to be involved in our local league.
I enjoyed showing up with you all every week. Great characters to be around.

We now prep for U12 Champs in Hamilton in a months time.

U12 Mid North Zone Day - Rotorua

4 years ago I started a journey with a small group of you men & yesterday It went full circle with a new journey beginning. Different time, Different group, Same goals.

Yesterday Jamie & I accompanied our young Lake Taupō Kahurangi boys team to the U12 Mid North Zone Day held in Rotorua where we played 2 games & were also joined by our 2nd U12 team.

For quickly put together teams that had had no trainings, both teams did exceptionally well. Although we were unable to walk away with a dub, we left with something much more valuable & beneficial, Learnings!

For majority of these boys, it was their first time playing outside of the Taupō local league & in a competitive environment so given the lack of experience & minimal development this far, we were all super proud of their efforts & they all left having enjoyed themselves.

Now we look to reset & get some trainings in, in preparation for U12 Champs held in Hamilton in September.

Here we go again whānau but now everyone knows what’s coming 😉😏💯

Te Aroha Basketball are running a masters tournament if your keen to enter please contact [email protected]

We were fortunate enough to have an article written up on us while competing at Nattys.
As it was on an American online platform, unless you had a VPN, we weren’t able to access the article so screen shots on in order to share.

Once again brother
Thank you for your time & recognition

Appreciation post:

A massive mihi out to our 3 mums that accompanied our boys on their trip.
This could not have happened the way it did without our 3 mamas there to help do, what coach could not.
gundersen



Thank you so very much for making this trip what it was. Your contribution was soo very much appreciated & needed. From the washing to navigating to running ship. There’s nothing that you’s couldn’t or wouldn’t do for these lads.
There’s nothing like a mothers touch

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world”

Thank you ladies. We appreciate you all.
P.S, soo glad there were a few photos with all of us in there ☺️

Grateful to have finally met you in person GC. Even though there are far more deserving people, I am honoured to be recognised.
We truly appreciate your acknowledgment.

Can’t wait to reconnect & introduce you to some of our local talent.
Until then brother, Salute 🫡

Photo bomb #2

Photo bomb

Native American Junior Nations 2026
9th/10th Grade Boys
Mesa, Arizona

Wow, what an amazing experience
Thank you to all involved for helping make this happen for this group of lucky young men. An experience that they will remember for a life time.

With everything seemingly against us from the get go, we managed to regroup & show up.

Day 1 Pool play
Vs Four Corners - Arizona
38-22 W

Day 1 Pool play
Vs OK Runners - Oklahoma
27-60 L

Day 2 Pool Play
Vs NM Wolves - New Mexico
41-31 W

Day 2 1st round of Bracket play
Vs Rez Heat - North Carolina
29-61 L

With 2 wins & 1 loss after pool play we earnt our spot in the Diamaond bracket (Top 30 teams out of 61 total teams), seeded 26th facing off against 7th seed in the 1st round of bracket play.
Harbouring some injuries & hitting the court with only 6 players against a tough team, we ended our Nattys experience early.

Our 2 losses came from 2 teams who both made top 4 & OK Runners even making the grand finale so we took solace in knowing we were able to play the best of the best, Nattys had to offer

Thank you for the opportunity & to all the friendly people who welcomed us.
Really made us feel comfortable in a foreign environment. We really felt the love & appreciated every moment.

Special thanks to Jon & Tribe Athletics. Look forward to our future endeavours & continued connections.
Coach Joey, Pechanga, ITS for showing up & supporting us. Family forever

You never know what the future holds & you may just see us again. Until then, much love to our new family in Arizona. We appreciate you all

The time is almost here!
On Sunday at 7:25pm we board a Boeing 777 & head to The Land of Opportunity.
To us, this is what it represents, opportunity & experience, & to my knowledge, the first time this has been done by a basketball team out of Taupō.

We have worked hard to create this trip for our boys, off of our own backs & out of our own pockets.
Special shout out to for allowing us to work their events & backing us all the way. Appreciated.

Thank you to all our parents & families for supporting the process & remaining just as loyal. A true family is what we’ve built.

To my boys, this is my gift to you!
A once in a lifetime, overseas trip to remember.
Reward for staying committed & having trust in the process.
Thank you for trusting me as your coach & believing in us, as a team.

Out of 16 originals back in 2022, only 3 remain & I’m thankful. This gift is especially for you 3.




We can’t wait & will see you all in a few days.
Yeehaaa, Here we come!